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Karstens has history of success in Arizona

Karstens has history of success in Arizona

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Jeff Karstens 041212

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PHOENIX -- Pirates right-hander Jeff Karstens must not have gotten the memo about the D-backs' home being a hitter's haven. As an inter-divisional foe, Karstens doesn't get to pitch here too often. When he does, however, he feels like he's living in a TV commercial.

Chase (Field is) what matters, indeed.

Karstens will make his third career start here in Tuesday night's middle game of the series. In the prior two, he allowed one run in 15 innings.

Included is his second game as a Pirates pitcher, on Aug. 6, 2008, when he was four outs shy of a perfect game when Chris Young doubled into the left-field corner with two outs in the eighth. Karstens went on to finish a two-hit shutout -- the first of his two career complete games.

"And the ball carries here well. It's not a particularly easy place to pitch. But I've done well," Karstens said.

Start No. 2 came last season on Sept. 19, when he allowed five hits and a run in six innings, but took a 1-0 loss to Ian Kennedy, his mound opponent again Tuesday night. That was Kennedy's 20th win of 2011.